That’s why we’ll discuss 6 ways you can reduce the cost of developing a mobile app.
Let’s go!
Table of Contents
How much does it cost to develop a mobile app?
There’s no clear-cut answer on how much it will cost you to develop a mobile app.
Every app is unique and the cost of development can vary wildly.
It depends on a number of different factors like:
Type and complexity of your app
The platform
The design
The team building the app
Maintenance and updates
But, on average, here’s a breakdown of how much apps usually cost:
Simple apps – $40,000-$60,000
Medium-complexity apps – $60,000-$70,000
Complex apps – $100,000+
And these numbers don’t include other services like product discovery.
Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to reduce your app’s development costs – starting with setting clear goals for your app.
How to reduce mobile app development costs
Now, let’s go over the 6 top ways to reduce the costs of building a mobile app in detail.
Set clear goals for your app
Setting clear goals is the essential first step for any project, regardless of size.
And your mobile app is no exception.
If you don’t, you’ll absolutely have higher costs due to the lack of focus.
Your risk of failure will be much greater, too – the Project Management Institute estimates that 37% of projects fail because of unclear goals and milestones.
That’s why having clear goals for your app from the start is so important.
So, how can you set clear goals?
A handy framework to use is the SMART goals framework:
Still, it’s a good option if you want to lower development costs and if your app doesn’t need advanced native features to work properly.
And that’s why it’s a good choice.
Key tips for cross-platform app development
Choose the right framework – choose the framework (Flutter, React Native) your team knows how to use
Understand the limitations of cross-platform development – a cross-platform app won’t have access to advanced native-only features and will have poorer performance
Focus on user experience (UX) – make sure to adjust your app’s UX according to platform-specific guidelines.
Prioritize developing an MVP
Prioritizing the development of a minimum viable product (MVP) is a great way to reduce your mobile app development costs.
But, why is that the case?
An MVP is a stripped-down version of your app with only the essential features included.
It’s a great way to get your app to market quickly.
An MVP is the ultimate idea validation tool you can use to see if genuine demand for your app exists.
And it’s a much more cost-effective approach than fully developing an app before launching it.
For starters, you can develop an MVP much more quickly – and that can save you a lot of time and money.
Plus, an MVP can save you a lot of money if your initial app idea isn’t validated and you have to pivot.
That’s why it’s a good idea to go for it.
Key tips for developing an MVP
Focus on core features – prioritize building only the essential features your app needs to function
Use Agile development methodologies – Agile methodologies like Scrum will speed up your development process and help you better manage your engineering team
Create a feedback loop – continuously gather feedback from users and use that as a basis for further development
Hire a dedicated team
Hiring talented engineers to develop your mobile app can get very expensive.
According to Glassdoor’s estimates, the average salary of a mobile developer in the U.S. is $143,000 per year.
If you don’t already have a team of engineers, hiring a full team can be very expensive.
And though hiring a bunch of freelancers is the cheapest option, coordination and quality issues mean that it’s also pretty risky.
That’s why hiring a dedicated team to develop your mobile app is the best option.
But, what is a dedicated team anyway?
A dedicated team is a team of engineers that handles your app’s development from start to finish – and it functions just like an in-house team.
The only difference is that it’s formed by a third-party agency or service provider based on your exact requirements.
You get a skilled engineering team that’s more reliable than freelancers and cheaper than an in-house team – it’s the best of both worlds.
And that’s why it’s the right choice.
Key tips for hiring a dedicated team
Define clear requirements – make sure you first have a clear idea of what you want your app to do
Set clear development timelines – the development timelines you set for your dedicated team should be clear, realistic and achievable
Ask about post-launch support – check if the company you’re partnering with offers maintenance and updates after your app’s launch
Use open-source tools and templates
Using open-source tools and pre-made templates is a great way to cut costs when developing a mobile app.
The stats back that up, too.
The Linux Foundation estimates that using open-source software can cut development costs by up to 55% when compared to commercial solutions.
And some of the most popular mobile app development tools and frameworks are open-source, like:
Also, with open-source tools, you’ll avoid the danger of vendor lock-in i.e. not being able to switch to a different vendor because of high costs.
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And it’s not just development where you can cut costs without sacrificing quality.
There are plenty of free mobile UI design templates and kits available on sites like Figma’s Community page.
You can use them as the basis for your app’s design, which can save you a lot of time.
And that’s what makes all the difference when it comes to reducing app development costs.
Key tips for using open-source tools and templates
Understand the licensing terms – each tool has its specific licensing terms you need to follow, make sure you comply with them to avoid legal issues
Stay updated on security – regularly check for security updates and fixes for every open-source tool you use
Regularly monitor performance – you should continuously monitor the performance of the tools you use and change them if necessary
Regularly test your app
Regularly testing your mobile app during development is a great way to reduce costs in the long run.
And you should do it from the start.
Catching bugs early will help prevent long andcostly fixes later on in your app’s development.
If you test regularly and have rigorous quality assurance (QA) protocols, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of major issues happening deep into the development cycle.
And these directly lowered costs are just one benefit of regular testing:
Even improved quality and security can reduce costs in their own right.
With a safe app, you’re less at risk of costly security breaches and high-quality apps have lower maintenance costs.
Also, if you have an efficient testing process, you’ll speed up your app’s development cycle.
Getting your app to market faster than your competitors can be the difference between success and failure, especially in competitive niches.
And that’s why investing in QA and regular testing is a good idea.
Key tips for mobile app testing
Start testing early – if you catch and fix bugs early, they’ll be much easier and cheaper to solve
Automate where possible – automated testing will save you time and ensure consistency in testing
Test across different devices – make sure your app works seamlessly on every device, screen size and operating system
6 ways to reduce mobile app development cost: FAQs
On average, here’s how much developing a mobile app costs:
By building an MVP first, you get your app to market faster and validate your app idea. This significantly shortens development time.
Yes, it’s a cheaper option than hiring an in-house team and more reliable than hiring freelancers. You just need to choose the right company to help you develop your mobile app.
Yes, many open-source tools are widely used and have strong communities behind them. They’re also continuously updated and you can rely on them when developing your mobile app.
Need a mobile app?
Developing a mobile app can be a game-changer for your business.
But, you need to find the right company to partner with if you want that to happen.
And that’s where we come in.
If you need help building your mobile app, feel free to reach out and get in touch with us – we’ll help you bring your app idea to life.
An Applied Sciences graduate and a true connoisseur of tech, Ivan is a software developer with a genuine love for exploring new technologies. QAs love his code, and his fellow developers always value his input. For Ivan, there is no issue too small to talk over, and no problem that can’t be solved together.
When he is not coding, Ivan is usually hiking or playing football. His ideal workspace? Probably a cottage in the mountains, with a serious gaming setup and fast internet connection.
